Definition
A precision optical instrument used for measuring angles, particularly the angle between the sun or moon and the horizon, essential for celestial navigation and determining latitude and longitude at sea. The sextant measures up to 120 degrees and uses mirrors and telescopes to achieve high accuracy.
Example Usage
The ship's navigator used a sextant to determine their exact position in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
Origin
From Latin 'sextans' (one-sixth), named because the arc of the instrument spans one-sixth of a full circle (60 degrees).
Fun Fact
Despite centuries of technological advancement, sextants are still carried on ships as backup navigation tools in case modern GPS systems fail.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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